Categories > Cartoons > Daria > Daria's Party Addition
Daria’s Party Addition – 02 – First Dates
by Dr T
‘Daria’ and its characters, plots, etc. belong to many others than me; I’m just playing with the characters and so on for fun. Readers are hopefully familiar with the episodes (like ‘College Bored’) and setting. After this, disclaimers should not be needed.
Daria and Jack’s first dates.
dp
Daria smirked slightly when Jack pulled into the driveway in a blue Lexus identical to her father’s two-year-old model. She was relieved when she saw Jack in jeans, flannel shirt, and denim jacket. She slipped into the passenger seat and adjusted the seatbelt with practiced ease. “My father has this same model,” she mentioned as she did so.
“Dad likes Caddies, and my mother gave me this a few months ago when she finally bought a BMW,” Jack answered as he backed out of the driveway. “Pretentious for all of us, but I’m not going to complain too much. I had a Ninety-two Tracker, but Mom always thought the soft top was too dangerous.”
“Yeah, mothers are like that,” Daria retorted. “Is your brother still in trouble?”
“Oh, yeah,” Jack agreed. “He and the other two idiots got into a shoving match yesterday afternoon, and unfortunately for them they were caught by Ms Barch.”
“Ouch indeed,” Daria had to agree. Except for Upchuck and Kevin, she wouldn’t wish that on many others at Lawndale High.
“Ms Li and Coach Gibson got them out of detention, and they’re on the team bus to tonight’s game despite being Freshmen – at least they had better be on it. They’re going to be waterboys, but it got them out of another detention this afternoon.”
Daria was a bit curious. “What’s the story on those three?”
Jack shrugged. “If you ever figure out all their dynamics, you’re a relationship genius. They’ve been together since pre-school. On the one hand, they’ll defend each other against just about anyone, but on the other they compete about everything except what’s of long-term importance.”
“Grades?”
“Grades? Well, school and studying at least,” Jack agreed. “Granted, even most of us who care about our GPA don’t really compete about it – at least I’ve never seen it. Still, going on nine full years, I’ve never heard a peep from any of them about doing anything in school, at least nothing related to anything long-term, let alone academic. The most they do is complain about their schoolwork.”
“Are they scoring around the same?”
“I don’t think so. I think, and I could be wrong, I think Jamie is a solid C and Joey’s a bit smarter, say a C/C plus. Jeff knows he’d better never score below a B minus, and he rarely does so. He just as rarely manages even a B plus.” He glanced at Daria. “How about Quinn?”
“By capability, I’d say she should be about on Jeff – Jeff and not Jeffy?”
“Dad and I are the only two that call him Jeff; well, if Mom or Dad say ‘Jeffrey’ like they did last Saturday, obviously he’s in trouble.”
“Okay, that makes sense,” Daria agreed. “I really believe Quinn should be scoring in the solid B range, but I think last year she was right between C plus and B minus, and I bet her grades here will be even worse, unless this grounding helps her grades.” After a moment’s thought, she went on, “I really don’t think Quinn is at all interested in Jeffy or the other two, at least not yet. She just wants to be seen, and they can’t drive her anywhere to be seen for at least a year.”
“Good point. Having one’s older sibling drive you is bad enough,” Jack observed, “but parents driving you or going to meet a date via bus are even worse.”
“True. In any event, like I said, she doesn’t seem really interested in them, at least as more than interchangeable admirers. Do you think one of them is serious about her?”
Jack thought about that. “I don’t know if one or more is serious about liking her, but the other two think so.” He smirked. “Or, knowing those three, none of them are really attracted to her but are each just trying to outdo the others because they think the others want to date her.” He pulled into Beef-n-Cake (burgers and Maryland crabcakes), busy, as it often was on Fridays, but it was just early enough that it wasn’t too crowded yet. “Enough about them.” He smiled at Daria, who surprised herself by giving him a tiny smile in return.
Ten minutes later, the pair were seated at a table for two and had placed their orders (cheeseburger for Daria, two crabcake burgers for Jack; fries and colas for both). Daria decided she would start the conversation. “So, Jane told me you were particularly interested in science. Any one in particular?”
“As in ‘what do I want to be when I grow up’?” he asked with a smile. “I’m planning on getting my BS is Geology and then going on into Paleontology.”
“Dinosaurs or early humans?”
“Those are the two obvious general fields,” Jack agreed. “At this point, I’m not sure but something older than human evolution. Exactly what would depend on where I go for grad school and if I’m able to end up at a university or museum somewhere. I could specialize in one area in grad school and end up researching another, just because of opportunities.”
“That makes sense. Do you know where you’re applying for undergrad yet?”
Jack nodded. “I have seven applications filled out and ready to go when they start accepting them at various points in November. I’d love to go to MIT or Harvard, but considering the competitive admissions for both, one of the other five is more likely.”
“You must have done well on your SATs.”
“Fifteen-sixty; seven-eighty on each part. I’m hoping to CLEP out of a lot of gen ed classes as well.”
Daria was impressed by the scores but was curious. “CLEP?”
“‘College Level Equivalency Program’ or ‘Placement’ or something like that. It’s a service run by the SAT folks as a way to test out of basic college courses.”
“I’ll have to look into that,” Daria mused. “So, you like fossils I take it?”
“I love fossil hunting,” he said with real enthusiasm, “but of course most of the places I can easily look at around here are all marine deposits and more than a few places that try to get you to come and then sell replicas and stuff.”
“I can see that. More kitsch than substance.”
Jack snorted, “There’s even a tourist trap near here with a big shark’s tooth, which may or may not be from a Great White, but that’s all they have, other than t-shirts and such. How about you? Do you know what you’re interested in yet?”
“Well, I am two years further away from college than you are.” The tone was slightly resentful, as despite her academic achievements, Daria’s mother had been adamant that she could never skip a grade no matter how bored she was in class. “I don’t really know. I have actually been thinking about Physical Anthropology, but I’ve also wondered about writing as a career.”
“It might be better to get a career and write on the side until you can really live off the writing, otherwise you might end up saying ‘do you want fries with that,’ or worse,” Jack pointed out.
“There might not be many jobs that pay worse, but I bet there are a lot worse in just about every other way,” Daria had to agree. Cleaning up certain types of places or the adult industry were both certainly unappealing, even if some parts of the latter might pay decently.
Their number was called out, and Jack retrieved their order. As he sat back down with their food, Daria asked in a quiet voice, “I’m curious…why ask me out?”
Jack considered for a moment, so Daria added, “Please, be honest.”
Jack thought about what little he had gathered about Daria from his observations and limited interactions. To Daria’s surprise, he was open and honest with her. “Okay, on the one hand, you dress to partially disguise exactly how attractive you really are – granted most of our fellow school mates would be fooled by Clark Kent’s glasses, so just with those glasses you have a good disguise for Lawndale – but you are willing to show that you have nice legs and beautiful hair to say the least.” He also thought she was adorable and had a cute butt, but was not going to mention that – Daria guessed the butt part, but not the face. She was surprised that he honestly seemed to find her attractive. “I noticed those things and more even before I saw you and Jane at that stupid assembly. After all, I’ve known Jane to some degree since elementary school, and she’s always been alone, until you joined her. It was hard to miss you since you were together most of the time.”
He smiled, “In addition, I may not be as creative an artist as Jane, but I have a good eye, and could see past your style of glasses and jacket. Still, as attractive as you are – and I think you are very attractive – I wouldn’t asked you out on that basis alone. Your little speech at that assembly caught my attention even more than your looks – how you treated Quinn reminded me of a more extreme version of my relationship with Jeff. Over the next two weeks, I paid attention when I was around you – you’re smart, you have a rapier wit – which if you can take it as well as you dish it out would be refreshing around here – and then last Saturday, you looked exactly how I felt at that boring party. By the time we were alone in the car, I wanted to ask you out, to see if we click.”
“And?”
He shrugged. “If we do, hopefully we’ll get to know each other better; if we don’t, hopefully we can at least be friendly.” Jack’s expression now became slightly predatory. “Why did you say ‘yes’?”
“That actually rather surprised me,” Daria admitted. “In a sense, it just came out of my mouth; it certainly was not calculated, let alone anticipated or even minimally thought out.” She pondered that, and then looked at Jack rather apprehensively. “Back in Texas, if anyone found me in any way attractive, they didn’t ever give me a hint.” Even Beavis and Butt-Head hadn’t really hit on her for her looks, despite some very crass remarks. When she was hit on, it was just because she was female. “Until I moved here, I never found anyone who was particularly attractive to me, and I mean in real life, on screen, and so on. I often wondered if I just wasn’t interested.” Daria’s eyes were on her food. “Well, I did meet someone I had to admit was attractive after I got here, even if he’s too old for me. And then you talked to me. I’ve never wanted to date anyone I’ve met before, but I have been propositioned before, and believe me, at my last school I heard more types of lines than I have here, and most of them were pretty crass and most of the rest, and most of the ones I’ve heard here, have been pretty lame.”
Daria then looked him in the eye. “First, you talked to me like a person, not someone you wanted to get with just to make out with, like the idiot who tried to get me into the make-out room earlier that evening only because I was an unattached female. You got to know me a little, interacted with me more than a bit, showed me that at least some of your values are similar to mine, and if you think I look decent, I’ll feed your ego in turn and say you are attractive.”
“Do you really want to know the adjective I’d most likely to describe you?”
“If you mean physically, it had better not be ‘cute,’ Daria warned, “and you need to describe how you think of the real me as well as the outer me.”
Jack smiled again. “Okay, the adjective I’d use to describe you physically is ‘adorable,’ and overall…I can’t think of one word. I know you want to come off as jaded and cynical, as well as very smart, but I’m not sure how jaded or cynical you might actually be.”
To his surprise, Daria gave him a small but very genuine smile. “I can live with those.” She finished her drink and said, “So, Cutie-pie, off to the movies?”
Jack laughed at that. “Okay, Handsome.”
dp
As they exited the cinema, Jack asked, “It’s just past Nine. Do you have a curfew?”
“I certainly shouldn’t be out until Eleven; before ten-thirty would be even better. Why?” Daria was suspicious, and for the first time that evening was glad she had bear-spray along.
Hearing the wary tone in her voice, Jack reassured her, “I don’t think you’d want to go parking. I was wondering if you wanted a soda or shake or something. The Waffle House, Denny’s, two diners, and so on are still open.” Neither had been hungry when they had arrived at the theater, so had not bothered with popcorn, snacks, or even soda.
Daria thought about it, and then suggested, “How about sodas, and we split some fries?”
“Sounds good.”
“You’re driving, you choose. Just remember I should be home before Ten-thirty.”
As they approached his car, Daria asked, “Do you think you have all the extras you might need for a place like MIT or Harvard?” He obviously had the money and SATs, and likely the grades at least. However, those places were very competitive.
Jack shrugged. “I don’t know. I only played football my Freshman year but I have been on the track team for shotput and discus since then; I am in the orchestra and choir; I’ve been on the “Lowdown’ staff every year.” That was the school newspaper. “Better, even if my father doesn’t understand my fascination with rocks and fossils, he sent me off to work in two field camps the past two summers – a dino dig in Utah and a Permian dig in Texas. Hopefully the references I got from those and maybe one or two more in the future will help.”
“I would think so,” Daria agreed. “I’m curious; considering how football crazy Lawndale is, why only one year?”
Jack shrugged again. “I’m strong, but not particularly light on my feet. I would always be playing the offensive line, and that part of the game was no fun for me. To be decent at it, you have to really at least like that sort of contact.”
“Makes sense.”
As they got into the car, he asked in a slightly amused tone, “Anything else you curious about?”
“Should I be surprised that you and your brother are enrolled in Lawndale High instead of that prep school just outside of town?”
“Probably,” Jack admitted. “Three of my cousins graduated from there, and three others are there now. As you may know, Lawndale National is the largest bank in the region, but Dad wants us to know the community. I doubt I’ll get involved in it directly, and that’s even more true of Jeff, but that was the idea.”
The two enjoyed their snack, and talked about art, the movie, their impressions of Lawndale…. Daria was surprised that she found the entire evening enjoyable, and that, while Jack didn’t cause the full physical reactions Trent had provoked two or three times, she realized by the end of their snack that she was actually attracted to him. They seemed to mesh. She was pleased when he asked if they could repeat the date the following weekend. He would have liked to ask for a date the next night as well, but his mother was insisting the family go to a regional orchestra concert.
Daria agreed, and they decided to make their plans Monday at lunch.
dp
Daria came in the door at 10:17, and found her family waiting for her. “You’re almost late,” Helen asserted.
“You never gave me a time I had to be back by,” Daria pointed out, but was careful to use a mild tone. She risked pointing out, “Quinn usually got back later, even on school nights.”
“That will no longer be the case,” Helen declared. “Nine o’clock on school nights for those with at least a B average, otherwise Eight; Ten on weekends unless previously agreed upon. If it will be past Eleven, your father and I both have to know about it before hand.”
Quinn’s jaw dropped at the idea of curfews being both that early and tied to a GPA.
“Alright,” Daria replied simply. “Jack and I will start making plans Monday; I’ll let you know as soon as we finalize any.”
“Good date then, Sweetie?” Helen asked hopefully.
“Actually, yes,” Daria agreed, the surprise just evident in her voice. “We enjoyed the movie, and stopped at the diner on Degas Street for sodas and fries after that, otherwise I would have been back earlier.”
“Okay, next time call and let us know.”
“Fair enough,” Daria replied. She and her mother watched Quinn angrily stomp up the stairs and then slam the door to her bedroom. Jake went back to watching the TV.
“Daria,” Helen asked softly, “you aren’t doing this to torment your sister, are you?”
“No, not at all,” Daria replied truthfully. ‘Although that is an added benefit,’ she mentally added.
dp
“So, is Jack a good kisser?” Jane asked the next afternoon.
Daria blushed slightly, but admitted, “I have no idea. No physical contact.”
“Have you decided if you’d be interested in that?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, surprising Jane that she hadn’t rejected the idea outright. Daria looked up, and Jane thought her friend looked very vulnerable. “I…I don’t know what to think.” ‘I like him,’ she thought but didn’t say, ‘and the more I think about him, the more I like him.’
Jane put her paints and brush down and sat by her friend. “You don’t know what to think, or you don’t know what you’re feeling?”
“Both,” Daria admitted.
“Then I’d say you like Jack and the experience of dating, but you aren’t certain how much you like either – it might just be a novel and pleasant experience, or it might lead to something deeper….”
“Or crash and burn….” Daria snarked.
Jane ignored that, and went on, “…and until you decide what you feel, you can’t decide what to think about it in any case.”
“That’s probably true,” Daria had to agree. She looked at Jane. “Thank you.”
Jane was a bit puzzled by that. “For?”
“For being here for me – I’ve never been able to rely on anyone else for anything, at least nothing positive, other than basics like being fed and such.”
“Well, that still put you one up on me until you showed up,” Jane pointed out. She’d had to forge several checks that week (house payment, utilities) and that always made her wonder if it would catch up with her.
“Well, at least Trent’s been semi-reliable for you.”
“True,” Jane agreed with a smile. “And now I can rely on you, and you can rely on me.” She gave Daria a brief hug, careful to end it before Daria could object, and went back to paint. “What else is up?”
“We visited some friends of my parents, and you wouldn’t believe the book they gave their toddler….”
dp
At lunch Monday, Jack surprised Daria by handing her a printout. “What’s all this?”
Jack shrugged. “Everything I could think of we might do this next weekend. Granted, that includes things I doubt you’d be interested in, but I could be wrong. And, of course, you might have additional ideas.”
Amused, Daria asked, “What do you think I’d be least interested in?”
The response was quick. “This Friday night couples get-together at Jerry’s.”
“And why is that?”
“Two to five additional invited couples besides Mary and Jerry show up, always at his place, between Seven and Seven-thirty, go down to the fixed-over basement, and the lights get turned off. There are two sofas and four large comfy chairs, and lots of shadows, dark corners and on, so limited vision of others, and music loud enough to cover up most activities.”
“Ah,” Daria said. She had of course never been to a make-out party, but easily understood the concept. She moved on, glancing at the list again. “I don’t think I would really dance, but if you want to go to the Homecoming Dance Saturday, we can.” She frowned. “It’s not formal or anything, right?”
“Nope, not even jacket and tie are mandatory for guys although over half will wear them, and everyone but the fashionistas does dress up a bit – granted, girls like your sister will likely go a bit overboard. The only thing requiring business-type wear would be dinner at the country club.” That was on the list for either evening.
“Would you really be interested in dinner there and then seeing that play at the Oakwood Playhouse?”
“If anything is on the list, I’m at least moderately interested. I should mention that if a school-type dance doesn’t really appeal to you, the country club has a very traditional dance band playing Fridays and Saturday nights, starting at Eight-thirty. I can manage the odd waltz.”
Daria smirked a bit. “And how about the Zon or McGrundy’s?”
Remembering that Jane often hung out at those places because of her brother’s band, Jack had no problem agreeing that either could work.
“So, if we were to go to your country club some evening – you said you know how to ballroom dance?”
“As I said, I am not very light on my feet,” Jack admitted, “however, even if I can’t really tango, at least not a fast or fancy one, I can waltz and if they’re not too fast, fox trot and polka.” Lawndale was the most pretentious town in the county – many children were sent to dance classes or even deportment lessons. “I also think they have the best dinners in the area.”
“Something for us to consider,” Daria replied. However, in the end she suggested they go with the country club/play Friday and the Homecoming Dance Saturday – Daria knew that she would be forced to go to the game Saturday in any event.
dp
That evening, Helen got quite a shock when Daria asked for her credit card for clothes shopping. While disappointed to learn that Daria was not going to really expand her school wardrobe, she was at least expanding her choices for going out.
In the end, Helen was relatively pleased, although Quinn was not. Daria bought two nice skirts, five tops, and a reasonably nice autumnal jacket for dates like at the country club or the homecoming dance. She also managed to find a pair of low-heeled boots which actually went with her somewhat dressier look (even if she would only wear them on dates to places like the country club). In addition, Daria bought a lined denim jacket and six tops for less formal dates, although she would wear some of the tops on school days.
Given the details of the play, Helen and Jake agreed to extend her curfew until 11:15. While Daria did not take Jack’s offered hand on the way into the Winged Tree Country Club, she did hook her arm into his. She was surprised at the quality of the food, although she really shouldn’t have been. Although Quinn had not managed to dine there yet, she had informed Daria that it was the most exclusive of the three most local country clubs. Daria should have guessed that the members would not tolerate mediocre food. She did notice that there were no prices listed on the menu she had been handed.
“My parents are the members,” Jack told her. “It’s my job to justify our dinners to Dad, not that I will have to – and if it makes you feel less worried, the prices here are less than places like Chez Pierre, and the food’s better as well.”
Daria therefore enjoyed her dinner as much as Jack, and the pair enjoyed the play as well. The 11:15 curfew, however, meant that there was no chance at any late-night snack. However, seeing it was only 10:50 as they approached her house, Daria asked Jack to stop three blocks from there. On their side of the road was an empty lot filled with scrub bushes and small tress, and opposite was the playground of the elementary school.
Slightly puzzled if hopeful, Jack did as instructed.
Daria undid her seatbelt, leaned over, and kissed Jack’s cheek. “Thank you for a very nice evening.” She quickly leaned back so that Jack could not easily kiss her back – she was not going to let this turn into a make-out session. She did, however, allow Jack to take her hand.
He raised her left hand and kissed the back of it. “Believe me, I enjoyed my time with you as well.”
Daria smiled until she entered her house just after 11:00.
dp
Daria didn’t hate watching football, but wasn’t overly thrilled by the game either. She sat behind her parents and Quinn, who had been allowed out for the day, with Jane on one side of her and Jack on the other. Technically Jane sat with them, but in reality she cared even less for football than Daria. She was willing to make runs to the concession stands for Jake, in exchange for snacks for herself – well, in reality Jake got two servings of nachos and one of popcorn, Helen and Quinn split one large bag of popcorn, and Jane, Daria, and Jack split a large tub of popcorn, while Jane ate a hotdog on the way back of each of the three of the food runs.
Jane hadn’t considered going to the homecoming dance, but decided to take Jack up on his offer to take her and pay her way in when Helen had sweetened the deal. Quinn was allowed to go to the dance, but only under conditions. Her date would be Jeffy, she would go with Daria (and Jeffy and Jane) in Jack’s car, she would not leave the dance early, and would return with Daria no matter when Daria decided they would leave. If she refused to leave, Daria could leave without her and Quinn would be grounded until after New Year’s. Jane was to also keep an eye out to make sure Quinn didn’t take off – Jane got a set of three new canvases as a reward. If Quinn caused any trouble, Daria was to call.
Quinn didn’t like the deal, but she knew she needed to make an appearance – she had been considering ways to sneaking out, but at least she could now make that all so-important appearance at a major school function. And, if she had to appear with a fellow Freshman, it at least showed she could still get a date, and a decent one for his age at that. She hoped this might get her off ‘fashion sabbatical.’
Jane noticed that Quinn only danced a few dances with Jeffy, and spent more time out-snooting Sandi and a few of the other snottier Freshman and Sophomore girls, while Jeffy spent most of that time alternately trying to keep Joey and/or Jamie away from Quinn while otherwise ignoring them.
Daria, however, was with either Jack or Jane, if not both, almost the entire time. When the pair separated from Jane, Jack was introducing Daria around to some of the other seniors. Although he was not a graceful dancer, Jack was a willing one, and Jane actually danced with him slightly more than Daria had. On the other hand, Daria had danced every slow dance with Jack, even if they did not cuddle anywhere nearly as much as many other couples, and when there had been a line dance called for, Daria had taught both of them. Jane doubted many saw the few if very brief kisses exchanged between the two, as they were so fleeting, and (to Jane’s greater surprise), they had all been initiated by Daria. The couple avoided having a good night kiss when Daria and Quinn were dropped off first.
dp
The next afternoon, Daria was over at Jane’s, and simply said as she sat on the bed, “Alright, let the teasing begin.”
“Teasing for?”
“Last night.”
Jane came and sat next to her friend. “Okay, about last night. First, thank you for letting me come along, and thank you for letting me dance with Jack. That’s the most fun I’ve had at a dance.”
“That’s good,” Daria replied softly.
“Are…it was okay I danced with him, right?” Jane asked, concerned.
“Yes, but….”
“But what?”
Daria flushed and looked down, “I would have been jealous if either of you had danced with anyone else.” Jane just placed a hand on Daria’s shoulder, and Daria did not avoid the contact. “My mother hasn’t given me a hug for over five years. Dad hasn’t for even longer, although he would sometimes carry me if Mom was carrying Quinn until I was almost ten. The last time anyone touched me in an affectionate way before you tried was when my Aunt Amy hugged me goodbye the Christmas after I turned eleven.”
Jane was appalled, and saw a tear on Daria’s cheek. “She hugged me and kissed my forehead…and Quinn threw a fit because she was being ignored.” She looked at Jane. “I haven’t seen or heard directly from Aunt Amy since – Mother has basically banished her from our lives because she favored me over Quinn, unlike our other relatives. I’ve…I had,” she corrected herself, “forgotten what affection was until I’ve been with Jack. What it felt like. I’m sorry if it ever felt like I was rejecting you.”
Jane put her arm around Daria’s shoulders. “Look, I can understand that. If that’s the way it is, be careful around Jack.”
“I might get carried away,” Daria had to agree.
“You liked kissing him, didn’t you?”
“I did.” Daria’s head dropped into her hands. “I can’t believe I’m as hormonal as the next teen.”
“And that’s okay, you can be cynical and snarky and still be affectionate all at the same time,” Jane assured her. “You’re smarter than just about everyone else” – Jane had known Daria was smart to some degree from the time of her first answer in History her very first day, but the more she knew her, the more intelligence Daria revealed and Jane was certain Daria had not really displayed the extent of her intelligence at all – “but you’re still human.”
“I guess.” Daria looked up at Jane. “Thank you.”
“I’m here,” Jane assured her. “Not to tease…well, I’ll probably tease at least a little, just like you’ll tease me, but mostly to help.” She turned Daria to fully face her. “I will be here for you,” Jane promised very firmly. Jane knew Trent loved her, just as she loved him. However, for the first time, she cared about someone else – and she knew Daria really cared for her as well.
“And I’ll be here for you as well,” Daria promised, confirming Jane’s previous thought.
by Dr T
‘Daria’ and its characters, plots, etc. belong to many others than me; I’m just playing with the characters and so on for fun. Readers are hopefully familiar with the episodes (like ‘College Bored’) and setting. After this, disclaimers should not be needed.
Daria and Jack’s first dates.
dp
Daria smirked slightly when Jack pulled into the driveway in a blue Lexus identical to her father’s two-year-old model. She was relieved when she saw Jack in jeans, flannel shirt, and denim jacket. She slipped into the passenger seat and adjusted the seatbelt with practiced ease. “My father has this same model,” she mentioned as she did so.
“Dad likes Caddies, and my mother gave me this a few months ago when she finally bought a BMW,” Jack answered as he backed out of the driveway. “Pretentious for all of us, but I’m not going to complain too much. I had a Ninety-two Tracker, but Mom always thought the soft top was too dangerous.”
“Yeah, mothers are like that,” Daria retorted. “Is your brother still in trouble?”
“Oh, yeah,” Jack agreed. “He and the other two idiots got into a shoving match yesterday afternoon, and unfortunately for them they were caught by Ms Barch.”
“Ouch indeed,” Daria had to agree. Except for Upchuck and Kevin, she wouldn’t wish that on many others at Lawndale High.
“Ms Li and Coach Gibson got them out of detention, and they’re on the team bus to tonight’s game despite being Freshmen – at least they had better be on it. They’re going to be waterboys, but it got them out of another detention this afternoon.”
Daria was a bit curious. “What’s the story on those three?”
Jack shrugged. “If you ever figure out all their dynamics, you’re a relationship genius. They’ve been together since pre-school. On the one hand, they’ll defend each other against just about anyone, but on the other they compete about everything except what’s of long-term importance.”
“Grades?”
“Grades? Well, school and studying at least,” Jack agreed. “Granted, even most of us who care about our GPA don’t really compete about it – at least I’ve never seen it. Still, going on nine full years, I’ve never heard a peep from any of them about doing anything in school, at least nothing related to anything long-term, let alone academic. The most they do is complain about their schoolwork.”
“Are they scoring around the same?”
“I don’t think so. I think, and I could be wrong, I think Jamie is a solid C and Joey’s a bit smarter, say a C/C plus. Jeff knows he’d better never score below a B minus, and he rarely does so. He just as rarely manages even a B plus.” He glanced at Daria. “How about Quinn?”
“By capability, I’d say she should be about on Jeff – Jeff and not Jeffy?”
“Dad and I are the only two that call him Jeff; well, if Mom or Dad say ‘Jeffrey’ like they did last Saturday, obviously he’s in trouble.”
“Okay, that makes sense,” Daria agreed. “I really believe Quinn should be scoring in the solid B range, but I think last year she was right between C plus and B minus, and I bet her grades here will be even worse, unless this grounding helps her grades.” After a moment’s thought, she went on, “I really don’t think Quinn is at all interested in Jeffy or the other two, at least not yet. She just wants to be seen, and they can’t drive her anywhere to be seen for at least a year.”
“Good point. Having one’s older sibling drive you is bad enough,” Jack observed, “but parents driving you or going to meet a date via bus are even worse.”
“True. In any event, like I said, she doesn’t seem really interested in them, at least as more than interchangeable admirers. Do you think one of them is serious about her?”
Jack thought about that. “I don’t know if one or more is serious about liking her, but the other two think so.” He smirked. “Or, knowing those three, none of them are really attracted to her but are each just trying to outdo the others because they think the others want to date her.” He pulled into Beef-n-Cake (burgers and Maryland crabcakes), busy, as it often was on Fridays, but it was just early enough that it wasn’t too crowded yet. “Enough about them.” He smiled at Daria, who surprised herself by giving him a tiny smile in return.
Ten minutes later, the pair were seated at a table for two and had placed their orders (cheeseburger for Daria, two crabcake burgers for Jack; fries and colas for both). Daria decided she would start the conversation. “So, Jane told me you were particularly interested in science. Any one in particular?”
“As in ‘what do I want to be when I grow up’?” he asked with a smile. “I’m planning on getting my BS is Geology and then going on into Paleontology.”
“Dinosaurs or early humans?”
“Those are the two obvious general fields,” Jack agreed. “At this point, I’m not sure but something older than human evolution. Exactly what would depend on where I go for grad school and if I’m able to end up at a university or museum somewhere. I could specialize in one area in grad school and end up researching another, just because of opportunities.”
“That makes sense. Do you know where you’re applying for undergrad yet?”
Jack nodded. “I have seven applications filled out and ready to go when they start accepting them at various points in November. I’d love to go to MIT or Harvard, but considering the competitive admissions for both, one of the other five is more likely.”
“You must have done well on your SATs.”
“Fifteen-sixty; seven-eighty on each part. I’m hoping to CLEP out of a lot of gen ed classes as well.”
Daria was impressed by the scores but was curious. “CLEP?”
“‘College Level Equivalency Program’ or ‘Placement’ or something like that. It’s a service run by the SAT folks as a way to test out of basic college courses.”
“I’ll have to look into that,” Daria mused. “So, you like fossils I take it?”
“I love fossil hunting,” he said with real enthusiasm, “but of course most of the places I can easily look at around here are all marine deposits and more than a few places that try to get you to come and then sell replicas and stuff.”
“I can see that. More kitsch than substance.”
Jack snorted, “There’s even a tourist trap near here with a big shark’s tooth, which may or may not be from a Great White, but that’s all they have, other than t-shirts and such. How about you? Do you know what you’re interested in yet?”
“Well, I am two years further away from college than you are.” The tone was slightly resentful, as despite her academic achievements, Daria’s mother had been adamant that she could never skip a grade no matter how bored she was in class. “I don’t really know. I have actually been thinking about Physical Anthropology, but I’ve also wondered about writing as a career.”
“It might be better to get a career and write on the side until you can really live off the writing, otherwise you might end up saying ‘do you want fries with that,’ or worse,” Jack pointed out.
“There might not be many jobs that pay worse, but I bet there are a lot worse in just about every other way,” Daria had to agree. Cleaning up certain types of places or the adult industry were both certainly unappealing, even if some parts of the latter might pay decently.
Their number was called out, and Jack retrieved their order. As he sat back down with their food, Daria asked in a quiet voice, “I’m curious…why ask me out?”
Jack considered for a moment, so Daria added, “Please, be honest.”
Jack thought about what little he had gathered about Daria from his observations and limited interactions. To Daria’s surprise, he was open and honest with her. “Okay, on the one hand, you dress to partially disguise exactly how attractive you really are – granted most of our fellow school mates would be fooled by Clark Kent’s glasses, so just with those glasses you have a good disguise for Lawndale – but you are willing to show that you have nice legs and beautiful hair to say the least.” He also thought she was adorable and had a cute butt, but was not going to mention that – Daria guessed the butt part, but not the face. She was surprised that he honestly seemed to find her attractive. “I noticed those things and more even before I saw you and Jane at that stupid assembly. After all, I’ve known Jane to some degree since elementary school, and she’s always been alone, until you joined her. It was hard to miss you since you were together most of the time.”
He smiled, “In addition, I may not be as creative an artist as Jane, but I have a good eye, and could see past your style of glasses and jacket. Still, as attractive as you are – and I think you are very attractive – I wouldn’t asked you out on that basis alone. Your little speech at that assembly caught my attention even more than your looks – how you treated Quinn reminded me of a more extreme version of my relationship with Jeff. Over the next two weeks, I paid attention when I was around you – you’re smart, you have a rapier wit – which if you can take it as well as you dish it out would be refreshing around here – and then last Saturday, you looked exactly how I felt at that boring party. By the time we were alone in the car, I wanted to ask you out, to see if we click.”
“And?”
He shrugged. “If we do, hopefully we’ll get to know each other better; if we don’t, hopefully we can at least be friendly.” Jack’s expression now became slightly predatory. “Why did you say ‘yes’?”
“That actually rather surprised me,” Daria admitted. “In a sense, it just came out of my mouth; it certainly was not calculated, let alone anticipated or even minimally thought out.” She pondered that, and then looked at Jack rather apprehensively. “Back in Texas, if anyone found me in any way attractive, they didn’t ever give me a hint.” Even Beavis and Butt-Head hadn’t really hit on her for her looks, despite some very crass remarks. When she was hit on, it was just because she was female. “Until I moved here, I never found anyone who was particularly attractive to me, and I mean in real life, on screen, and so on. I often wondered if I just wasn’t interested.” Daria’s eyes were on her food. “Well, I did meet someone I had to admit was attractive after I got here, even if he’s too old for me. And then you talked to me. I’ve never wanted to date anyone I’ve met before, but I have been propositioned before, and believe me, at my last school I heard more types of lines than I have here, and most of them were pretty crass and most of the rest, and most of the ones I’ve heard here, have been pretty lame.”
Daria then looked him in the eye. “First, you talked to me like a person, not someone you wanted to get with just to make out with, like the idiot who tried to get me into the make-out room earlier that evening only because I was an unattached female. You got to know me a little, interacted with me more than a bit, showed me that at least some of your values are similar to mine, and if you think I look decent, I’ll feed your ego in turn and say you are attractive.”
“Do you really want to know the adjective I’d most likely to describe you?”
“If you mean physically, it had better not be ‘cute,’ Daria warned, “and you need to describe how you think of the real me as well as the outer me.”
Jack smiled again. “Okay, the adjective I’d use to describe you physically is ‘adorable,’ and overall…I can’t think of one word. I know you want to come off as jaded and cynical, as well as very smart, but I’m not sure how jaded or cynical you might actually be.”
To his surprise, Daria gave him a small but very genuine smile. “I can live with those.” She finished her drink and said, “So, Cutie-pie, off to the movies?”
Jack laughed at that. “Okay, Handsome.”
dp
As they exited the cinema, Jack asked, “It’s just past Nine. Do you have a curfew?”
“I certainly shouldn’t be out until Eleven; before ten-thirty would be even better. Why?” Daria was suspicious, and for the first time that evening was glad she had bear-spray along.
Hearing the wary tone in her voice, Jack reassured her, “I don’t think you’d want to go parking. I was wondering if you wanted a soda or shake or something. The Waffle House, Denny’s, two diners, and so on are still open.” Neither had been hungry when they had arrived at the theater, so had not bothered with popcorn, snacks, or even soda.
Daria thought about it, and then suggested, “How about sodas, and we split some fries?”
“Sounds good.”
“You’re driving, you choose. Just remember I should be home before Ten-thirty.”
As they approached his car, Daria asked, “Do you think you have all the extras you might need for a place like MIT or Harvard?” He obviously had the money and SATs, and likely the grades at least. However, those places were very competitive.
Jack shrugged. “I don’t know. I only played football my Freshman year but I have been on the track team for shotput and discus since then; I am in the orchestra and choir; I’ve been on the “Lowdown’ staff every year.” That was the school newspaper. “Better, even if my father doesn’t understand my fascination with rocks and fossils, he sent me off to work in two field camps the past two summers – a dino dig in Utah and a Permian dig in Texas. Hopefully the references I got from those and maybe one or two more in the future will help.”
“I would think so,” Daria agreed. “I’m curious; considering how football crazy Lawndale is, why only one year?”
Jack shrugged again. “I’m strong, but not particularly light on my feet. I would always be playing the offensive line, and that part of the game was no fun for me. To be decent at it, you have to really at least like that sort of contact.”
“Makes sense.”
As they got into the car, he asked in a slightly amused tone, “Anything else you curious about?”
“Should I be surprised that you and your brother are enrolled in Lawndale High instead of that prep school just outside of town?”
“Probably,” Jack admitted. “Three of my cousins graduated from there, and three others are there now. As you may know, Lawndale National is the largest bank in the region, but Dad wants us to know the community. I doubt I’ll get involved in it directly, and that’s even more true of Jeff, but that was the idea.”
The two enjoyed their snack, and talked about art, the movie, their impressions of Lawndale…. Daria was surprised that she found the entire evening enjoyable, and that, while Jack didn’t cause the full physical reactions Trent had provoked two or three times, she realized by the end of their snack that she was actually attracted to him. They seemed to mesh. She was pleased when he asked if they could repeat the date the following weekend. He would have liked to ask for a date the next night as well, but his mother was insisting the family go to a regional orchestra concert.
Daria agreed, and they decided to make their plans Monday at lunch.
dp
Daria came in the door at 10:17, and found her family waiting for her. “You’re almost late,” Helen asserted.
“You never gave me a time I had to be back by,” Daria pointed out, but was careful to use a mild tone. She risked pointing out, “Quinn usually got back later, even on school nights.”
“That will no longer be the case,” Helen declared. “Nine o’clock on school nights for those with at least a B average, otherwise Eight; Ten on weekends unless previously agreed upon. If it will be past Eleven, your father and I both have to know about it before hand.”
Quinn’s jaw dropped at the idea of curfews being both that early and tied to a GPA.
“Alright,” Daria replied simply. “Jack and I will start making plans Monday; I’ll let you know as soon as we finalize any.”
“Good date then, Sweetie?” Helen asked hopefully.
“Actually, yes,” Daria agreed, the surprise just evident in her voice. “We enjoyed the movie, and stopped at the diner on Degas Street for sodas and fries after that, otherwise I would have been back earlier.”
“Okay, next time call and let us know.”
“Fair enough,” Daria replied. She and her mother watched Quinn angrily stomp up the stairs and then slam the door to her bedroom. Jake went back to watching the TV.
“Daria,” Helen asked softly, “you aren’t doing this to torment your sister, are you?”
“No, not at all,” Daria replied truthfully. ‘Although that is an added benefit,’ she mentally added.
dp
“So, is Jack a good kisser?” Jane asked the next afternoon.
Daria blushed slightly, but admitted, “I have no idea. No physical contact.”
“Have you decided if you’d be interested in that?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, surprising Jane that she hadn’t rejected the idea outright. Daria looked up, and Jane thought her friend looked very vulnerable. “I…I don’t know what to think.” ‘I like him,’ she thought but didn’t say, ‘and the more I think about him, the more I like him.’
Jane put her paints and brush down and sat by her friend. “You don’t know what to think, or you don’t know what you’re feeling?”
“Both,” Daria admitted.
“Then I’d say you like Jack and the experience of dating, but you aren’t certain how much you like either – it might just be a novel and pleasant experience, or it might lead to something deeper….”
“Or crash and burn….” Daria snarked.
Jane ignored that, and went on, “…and until you decide what you feel, you can’t decide what to think about it in any case.”
“That’s probably true,” Daria had to agree. She looked at Jane. “Thank you.”
Jane was a bit puzzled by that. “For?”
“For being here for me – I’ve never been able to rely on anyone else for anything, at least nothing positive, other than basics like being fed and such.”
“Well, that still put you one up on me until you showed up,” Jane pointed out. She’d had to forge several checks that week (house payment, utilities) and that always made her wonder if it would catch up with her.
“Well, at least Trent’s been semi-reliable for you.”
“True,” Jane agreed with a smile. “And now I can rely on you, and you can rely on me.” She gave Daria a brief hug, careful to end it before Daria could object, and went back to paint. “What else is up?”
“We visited some friends of my parents, and you wouldn’t believe the book they gave their toddler….”
dp
At lunch Monday, Jack surprised Daria by handing her a printout. “What’s all this?”
Jack shrugged. “Everything I could think of we might do this next weekend. Granted, that includes things I doubt you’d be interested in, but I could be wrong. And, of course, you might have additional ideas.”
Amused, Daria asked, “What do you think I’d be least interested in?”
The response was quick. “This Friday night couples get-together at Jerry’s.”
“And why is that?”
“Two to five additional invited couples besides Mary and Jerry show up, always at his place, between Seven and Seven-thirty, go down to the fixed-over basement, and the lights get turned off. There are two sofas and four large comfy chairs, and lots of shadows, dark corners and on, so limited vision of others, and music loud enough to cover up most activities.”
“Ah,” Daria said. She had of course never been to a make-out party, but easily understood the concept. She moved on, glancing at the list again. “I don’t think I would really dance, but if you want to go to the Homecoming Dance Saturday, we can.” She frowned. “It’s not formal or anything, right?”
“Nope, not even jacket and tie are mandatory for guys although over half will wear them, and everyone but the fashionistas does dress up a bit – granted, girls like your sister will likely go a bit overboard. The only thing requiring business-type wear would be dinner at the country club.” That was on the list for either evening.
“Would you really be interested in dinner there and then seeing that play at the Oakwood Playhouse?”
“If anything is on the list, I’m at least moderately interested. I should mention that if a school-type dance doesn’t really appeal to you, the country club has a very traditional dance band playing Fridays and Saturday nights, starting at Eight-thirty. I can manage the odd waltz.”
Daria smirked a bit. “And how about the Zon or McGrundy’s?”
Remembering that Jane often hung out at those places because of her brother’s band, Jack had no problem agreeing that either could work.
“So, if we were to go to your country club some evening – you said you know how to ballroom dance?”
“As I said, I am not very light on my feet,” Jack admitted, “however, even if I can’t really tango, at least not a fast or fancy one, I can waltz and if they’re not too fast, fox trot and polka.” Lawndale was the most pretentious town in the county – many children were sent to dance classes or even deportment lessons. “I also think they have the best dinners in the area.”
“Something for us to consider,” Daria replied. However, in the end she suggested they go with the country club/play Friday and the Homecoming Dance Saturday – Daria knew that she would be forced to go to the game Saturday in any event.
dp
That evening, Helen got quite a shock when Daria asked for her credit card for clothes shopping. While disappointed to learn that Daria was not going to really expand her school wardrobe, she was at least expanding her choices for going out.
In the end, Helen was relatively pleased, although Quinn was not. Daria bought two nice skirts, five tops, and a reasonably nice autumnal jacket for dates like at the country club or the homecoming dance. She also managed to find a pair of low-heeled boots which actually went with her somewhat dressier look (even if she would only wear them on dates to places like the country club). In addition, Daria bought a lined denim jacket and six tops for less formal dates, although she would wear some of the tops on school days.
Given the details of the play, Helen and Jake agreed to extend her curfew until 11:15. While Daria did not take Jack’s offered hand on the way into the Winged Tree Country Club, she did hook her arm into his. She was surprised at the quality of the food, although she really shouldn’t have been. Although Quinn had not managed to dine there yet, she had informed Daria that it was the most exclusive of the three most local country clubs. Daria should have guessed that the members would not tolerate mediocre food. She did notice that there were no prices listed on the menu she had been handed.
“My parents are the members,” Jack told her. “It’s my job to justify our dinners to Dad, not that I will have to – and if it makes you feel less worried, the prices here are less than places like Chez Pierre, and the food’s better as well.”
Daria therefore enjoyed her dinner as much as Jack, and the pair enjoyed the play as well. The 11:15 curfew, however, meant that there was no chance at any late-night snack. However, seeing it was only 10:50 as they approached her house, Daria asked Jack to stop three blocks from there. On their side of the road was an empty lot filled with scrub bushes and small tress, and opposite was the playground of the elementary school.
Slightly puzzled if hopeful, Jack did as instructed.
Daria undid her seatbelt, leaned over, and kissed Jack’s cheek. “Thank you for a very nice evening.” She quickly leaned back so that Jack could not easily kiss her back – she was not going to let this turn into a make-out session. She did, however, allow Jack to take her hand.
He raised her left hand and kissed the back of it. “Believe me, I enjoyed my time with you as well.”
Daria smiled until she entered her house just after 11:00.
dp
Daria didn’t hate watching football, but wasn’t overly thrilled by the game either. She sat behind her parents and Quinn, who had been allowed out for the day, with Jane on one side of her and Jack on the other. Technically Jane sat with them, but in reality she cared even less for football than Daria. She was willing to make runs to the concession stands for Jake, in exchange for snacks for herself – well, in reality Jake got two servings of nachos and one of popcorn, Helen and Quinn split one large bag of popcorn, and Jane, Daria, and Jack split a large tub of popcorn, while Jane ate a hotdog on the way back of each of the three of the food runs.
Jane hadn’t considered going to the homecoming dance, but decided to take Jack up on his offer to take her and pay her way in when Helen had sweetened the deal. Quinn was allowed to go to the dance, but only under conditions. Her date would be Jeffy, she would go with Daria (and Jeffy and Jane) in Jack’s car, she would not leave the dance early, and would return with Daria no matter when Daria decided they would leave. If she refused to leave, Daria could leave without her and Quinn would be grounded until after New Year’s. Jane was to also keep an eye out to make sure Quinn didn’t take off – Jane got a set of three new canvases as a reward. If Quinn caused any trouble, Daria was to call.
Quinn didn’t like the deal, but she knew she needed to make an appearance – she had been considering ways to sneaking out, but at least she could now make that all so-important appearance at a major school function. And, if she had to appear with a fellow Freshman, it at least showed she could still get a date, and a decent one for his age at that. She hoped this might get her off ‘fashion sabbatical.’
Jane noticed that Quinn only danced a few dances with Jeffy, and spent more time out-snooting Sandi and a few of the other snottier Freshman and Sophomore girls, while Jeffy spent most of that time alternately trying to keep Joey and/or Jamie away from Quinn while otherwise ignoring them.
Daria, however, was with either Jack or Jane, if not both, almost the entire time. When the pair separated from Jane, Jack was introducing Daria around to some of the other seniors. Although he was not a graceful dancer, Jack was a willing one, and Jane actually danced with him slightly more than Daria had. On the other hand, Daria had danced every slow dance with Jack, even if they did not cuddle anywhere nearly as much as many other couples, and when there had been a line dance called for, Daria had taught both of them. Jane doubted many saw the few if very brief kisses exchanged between the two, as they were so fleeting, and (to Jane’s greater surprise), they had all been initiated by Daria. The couple avoided having a good night kiss when Daria and Quinn were dropped off first.
dp
The next afternoon, Daria was over at Jane’s, and simply said as she sat on the bed, “Alright, let the teasing begin.”
“Teasing for?”
“Last night.”
Jane came and sat next to her friend. “Okay, about last night. First, thank you for letting me come along, and thank you for letting me dance with Jack. That’s the most fun I’ve had at a dance.”
“That’s good,” Daria replied softly.
“Are…it was okay I danced with him, right?” Jane asked, concerned.
“Yes, but….”
“But what?”
Daria flushed and looked down, “I would have been jealous if either of you had danced with anyone else.” Jane just placed a hand on Daria’s shoulder, and Daria did not avoid the contact. “My mother hasn’t given me a hug for over five years. Dad hasn’t for even longer, although he would sometimes carry me if Mom was carrying Quinn until I was almost ten. The last time anyone touched me in an affectionate way before you tried was when my Aunt Amy hugged me goodbye the Christmas after I turned eleven.”
Jane was appalled, and saw a tear on Daria’s cheek. “She hugged me and kissed my forehead…and Quinn threw a fit because she was being ignored.” She looked at Jane. “I haven’t seen or heard directly from Aunt Amy since – Mother has basically banished her from our lives because she favored me over Quinn, unlike our other relatives. I’ve…I had,” she corrected herself, “forgotten what affection was until I’ve been with Jack. What it felt like. I’m sorry if it ever felt like I was rejecting you.”
Jane put her arm around Daria’s shoulders. “Look, I can understand that. If that’s the way it is, be careful around Jack.”
“I might get carried away,” Daria had to agree.
“You liked kissing him, didn’t you?”
“I did.” Daria’s head dropped into her hands. “I can’t believe I’m as hormonal as the next teen.”
“And that’s okay, you can be cynical and snarky and still be affectionate all at the same time,” Jane assured her. “You’re smarter than just about everyone else” – Jane had known Daria was smart to some degree from the time of her first answer in History her very first day, but the more she knew her, the more intelligence Daria revealed and Jane was certain Daria had not really displayed the extent of her intelligence at all – “but you’re still human.”
“I guess.” Daria looked up at Jane. “Thank you.”
“I’m here,” Jane assured her. “Not to tease…well, I’ll probably tease at least a little, just like you’ll tease me, but mostly to help.” She turned Daria to fully face her. “I will be here for you,” Jane promised very firmly. Jane knew Trent loved her, just as she loved him. However, for the first time, she cared about someone else – and she knew Daria really cared for her as well.
“And I’ll be here for you as well,” Daria promised, confirming Jane’s previous thought.
Sign up to rate and review this story